It has been a historic first two months of the season for Gophers football. Minnesota sits at 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten) for the first time since 1941 and has a two game lead in the Big Ten West with four weeks remaining.
Minnesota will open November with a highly anticipated matchup against also-unbeaten Penn State. Like the Gophers, the Nittany Lions have opened the year with eight consecutive victories, placing them in a first-place tie atop the Big Ten East with Ohio State.
Penn State’s early season success is thanks in large part to a rush defense that is allowing 1.99 yards per carry. That total is nearly half-a-yard less per carry than Utah, ranked second in the category conceding 2.45 yards per rush.
When the Gophers have the ball on Saturday, it will be strength versus strength, as the Gophers feature a talented backfield trio in redshirt seniors Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith and redshirt sophomore Mohamed Ibrahim. Minnesota has rushed for over 320 yards in three of its last four contests.
“All three of us out there is tough for defenses,” Smith said. “All three of us have different running styles and we have fresh bodies rolling in, that’s always good to have. The running back position is difficult when you have to tackle three different guys.”
Of course, the passing game must be mentioned as one of the Gophers’ strengths as well. Quarterback Tanner Morgan ranks seventh in the nation in passing efficiency while his top two targets, senior Tyler Johnson and sophomore Rashod Bateman, both rank top six in the Big Ten in receiving yards. This group will also face their toughest task of the season to date, as the Nittany Lions rank seventh in the FBS in pass defense efficiency.
Gophers offense coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca feels that his offense has come a long way this year and now is up to the challenge.
“When I thought about this unit in January, I knew at some point good,” Ciarrocca said. “I just didn’t know when. It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when … I wouldn’t say it’s an unstoppable offense but honestly, I’m just proud of the kids and happy for them and how hard they’ve worked.”
On Saturday, Minnesota will look to accomplish something they have not done since 1999: defeat a team ranked in the AP top five. That season, the Gophers took down Penn State, ranked No. 2 at the time, by a score of 24-23. If Minnesota can replicate that feat, head coach P.J. Fleck will have fulfilled a promise he made upon becoming head coach, taking the program to new heights.
“[Director of Athletics] Mark Coyle’s demand of me was, ‘make this program better,'” Fleck said.
Down the road
After Penn State, Minnesota’s path to the Big Ten Championship remains difficult. On Nov. 16, the Gophers will attempt to take down Iowa. To do so, they will have to win at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, another feat the program has not achieved since 1999.
In the season’s penultimate week, the Gophers travel to Evantson, IL to play a struggling Northwestern team that has scored just 78 points thus far this season. The Wildcats have been hindered by a passing attack that ranks 125th in FBS.
In the season finale, Minnesota welcomes its rivals from the East for the latest battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. The Gophers ended a 15-game losing streak to Wisconsin last year, earning a 37-15 victory in Madison, WI, their first since 1994. After looking dominant with four shutouts in their first six games, the Badgers dropped two contests in a row against Illinois and Ohio State.
For fans, it may be tempting to look ahead to what may be, but Fleck has instilled in his team a mindset that each week it a one-game championship season.
“It is exciting. Every week is a championship week and that is how we treat it,” Ibrahim said. “Every week is a big week for us.”
